It’s been a tough year for Hollywood heart-throbs. Aside from a string of box-office bombs, the year has been plagued by rumours of marital troubles for Ryan Gosling and Dane Debeau’s split. There were also reports that Leonardo DiCaprio had to hide his six-foot plus frame from paparazzi in Milan – where he currently has a home – as he didn’t want them to photograph him looking less than perfect.
But the worst may be over for DiCaprio as his recent outings in Hollywood seem to indicate he’s finally found the right weight. After years of ballooning, Leonardo has finally lost the extra pounds and is looking hotter than ever. The Wolf of Wall Street himself, Warren Buffett, can attest to that as he gushed in his magazine, the Sunday Sun, “He looks very healthy. It’s wonderful to see such a fine-looking young man.”
So what changed for DiCaprio? Were his fans simply fooled by his chiselled looks, or are we seeing the real Leonardo DiCaprio and is he simply doing yoga to stay slim? We examined his eating habits and work out regime to identify the key factors behind his incredible transformation.
The Master Chef
The 42-year-old Brazilian-born actor has been open about his struggles with obesity since 2011, when he hit a low point in his career. “I got very sick,” he told GQ. “I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t do anything. It was a wake-up call. My team said, ‘Look, if you want to be in movies, you’re going to have to change your lifestyle.’”
DiCaprio was reportedly put on a strict diet by doctors and medical professionals, which was followed by a fitness programme. He also turned to eating raw food and adopting a plant-based diet. To fuel his body, he trained regularly with personal trainer Christian DeBenedictus. The result of this effort saw the Wolf of Wall Street star shed a massive 12 kg (26.5 lbs) in just under a year.
According to Dr Anu Anand, a registered dietician and spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association, changing your diet is only the first step in getting healthy. “You have to be careful as diets don’t always work as people expect,” she told HuffPost. “There are so many different factors that go into weight gain and weight loss, what works for one person might not work for another. It’s always best to consult with a dietician or medical professional to get a more realistic idea of what changes you need to make in your diet and lifestyle.”
The Master Yacht Chef
While DiCaprio was losing weight, he was also taking on new challenges. In 2015, he bought a 50-foot-long (16.3 m) superyacht, which he customized with a team of chefs and master yacht chefs led by Fabrizio Ferrarini. The boat was a reflection of DiCaprio’s desire to experiment with different cuisines and his love of luxury.
Since then, the Ocean Yacht Chef has been on a world tour, docking in places such as Monaco, Italy, and the Bahamas. While he was in the Bahamas for the Thanksgiving holidays in 2017, the boat was used to transport several famous faces. The following day, the boat was spotted off the coast of Italy with Robert DeNiro, Bill Murray, and André Clemons on board. They were there to see DiCaprio film The Wolf of Wall Street. Even President Donald Trump spent part of one night on the water, with his inflatable travel pillow next to him. It’s not exactly the type of trip you make when you’re feeling poorly. In the end, the boat’s skipper, Fabrizio Ferrarini, said it was a great way to get healthy. “I think this is the first time in 20 years that I’ve sailed. It really is a great way to get your fitness levels up and burn some calories,” he told The Independent. “It does require a lot of work, but it’s always satisfying when you see things like this happen. You can’t help but feel good about yourself.”
The Master Stear Clear Of Bad Habits
One of the things that helped DiCaprio shed those extra pounds was reducing or avoiding bad habits. In the past, he had a tendency to eat whatever he wanted, often in secret. While he was on a diet, he focused on sticking to it and cutting out behaviours that caused him to gain weight – such as drinking alcohol or taking drugs. He also avoided fried foods and processed sugars. What’s more, he reportedly stopped smoking – a known cause of weight gain – and has rarely, if ever, gone on a diet where food is the main focus. In fact, he has said that he feels great when he’s following a diet plan, because he is giving his body plenty of nutrients and building strong muscles.
DiCaprio is also a big supporter of the vegan lifestyle, having invested in vegan-friendly meal delivery service, Plant Based on Purpose, which provides healthy and delicious food options for people who want to reduce their meat intake. He makes this clear in the 2017 documentary, Becoming vegan: The Stories of Four Lives Changed by Food, which explores the ways in which four individuals embraced a vegan lifestyle and how it affected them.
The Master Workout Routine
Another important factor in DiCaprio’s weight loss is his workout routine. It’s not just about the pounds he’s lost, but how he’s changed his body. Over the years, the actor has reportedly worked out five days a week and spent more than an hour a day training. While some people might not need that much time to fuel their bodies, DiCaprio’s dedication to fitness is what helped him achieve such great results.
DiCaprio reportedly follows a routine that involves a weight routine, strength training, and yoga. According to his trainer, Christian DeBenedictus, the routine involves incorporating heavy weights into his workout and performing compound movements to target all the muscle groups in his body. The result is a more defined physique and greater stamina.
While the routine might not be for everyone, it certainly worked for DiCaprio, who has said that he feels great and stays fit by following it. “To work out five days a week and make it a point to do compound movements – I wouldn’t want to say that everyone should follow this routine, but it’s a great starting point,” DeBenedictus said. “I’d like to see people try it and see what it’s like. It can be a great starting point for those people who want to improve their quality of life. Having enough energy to do the things you want to do, being able to enjoy your life, is very valuable.”
With 2020 just around the corner, there’s no clearer indication that people are struggling with excess weight than the Hollywood heart-throbs. But it’s good to see that DiCaprio has finally found his perfect weight, which is arguably better for his health than a lot of people’s diets. As Dr Anu Anand said, “It’s incredible what this man has been through and how he’s turned it all around. If he can continue to do this, people with obesity should definitely take note. It’s never easy losing weight, but it’s so worth it in the end.”